I just double checked something prior to writing this. I don't remember ever playing a Resident Evil game aside from the very first one on the PS1. And I'm correct - so that's 28 years without playing one of the most successful established and popular gaming franchises ever made. I don't know why this is the case - it's not been a deliberate boycott like I do with Wetherspoons (and there are a LOT of similarities here - slow moving, zombified shells of humans in overly long corridors as you try desperately to escape..... and the Resident Evil games) it's just a series that's passed me by.
So although this is a remake, for me, it's a brand new experience. And I enjoyed it a lot - a constant feeling of unease, it didn't take me long to realise that EVERY bullet is precious, and inventory management is key to success.
With really impressive level design and some proper jump scares (fortunately I was playing in my living room on the big tv whilst the wife and kids were on another floor so they didn't hear my squeals - I am pathetic), the atmosphere is perfectly pitched. The most impressive aspect of this for me is the lighting effects. It looks stunning on the Series X. And then there's the sound. In many cases, it's the total LACK of sound which make this so effective. Ominous. What the fuck is waiting for me around this corner....?
I need to mention the big annoying brute in the screenshot. He's terrifying, and also incredibly bloody annoying. It's like my kids bombarding me with questions when I'm trying to watch the football. "FFS, can't you just wait a few minutes?" He's a very unwelcome sight at just the wrong times. But the way you're alerted to his presence with the incoming footsteps, the slow build up of music.... Very well done. And I'm pleased that he's slower than the train service in my local town.
RE2 is pretty much the ideal length. I think it took me around 7 hours in total - obvs this would be way quicker if I did a 2nd playthrough now I've worked out the puzzles (which to be fair have a decent variety to them and never stray away from the atmosphere of the game). Save points are more than welcome - although a lot of times my playing time was saved by Quick Resume - a system that has always been very temperamental for me but fortunately always worked perfectly here.
I'm going to play something quicker, brighter and something that doesn't make me squeal very often as my next game. I enjoyed this very much, and I'll have a go at RE3 fairly soon but by the end I was glad to see the credits roll and that slow, hulking dickhead won't be missed!
So although this is a remake, for me, it's a brand new experience. And I enjoyed it a lot - a constant feeling of unease, it didn't take me long to realise that EVERY bullet is precious, and inventory management is key to success.
With really impressive level design and some proper jump scares (fortunately I was playing in my living room on the big tv whilst the wife and kids were on another floor so they didn't hear my squeals - I am pathetic), the atmosphere is perfectly pitched. The most impressive aspect of this for me is the lighting effects. It looks stunning on the Series X. And then there's the sound. In many cases, it's the total LACK of sound which make this so effective. Ominous. What the fuck is waiting for me around this corner....?
I need to mention the big annoying brute in the screenshot. He's terrifying, and also incredibly bloody annoying. It's like my kids bombarding me with questions when I'm trying to watch the football. "FFS, can't you just wait a few minutes?" He's a very unwelcome sight at just the wrong times. But the way you're alerted to his presence with the incoming footsteps, the slow build up of music.... Very well done. And I'm pleased that he's slower than the train service in my local town.
RE2 is pretty much the ideal length. I think it took me around 7 hours in total - obvs this would be way quicker if I did a 2nd playthrough now I've worked out the puzzles (which to be fair have a decent variety to them and never stray away from the atmosphere of the game). Save points are more than welcome - although a lot of times my playing time was saved by Quick Resume - a system that has always been very temperamental for me but fortunately always worked perfectly here.
I'm going to play something quicker, brighter and something that doesn't make me squeal very often as my next game. I enjoyed this very much, and I'll have a go at RE3 fairly soon but by the end I was glad to see the credits roll and that slow, hulking dickhead won't be missed!